Welding timer



Sept. 26, 1 939 c. STANSBURY 2,173,921

WELDING TIMER Fi'led Sept. 11, 19:56 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Mum n ,a @WRL fkmwhw p 1939. c. STANSBURY 2,173,921

WELDING TIMER Filed Sept. 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' I i I a 8 Mwmw Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES WELDING TIMER Carroll Stansbury, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1936, Serial No. 100,279

' 12 Claims. (Cl. 175-375) This invention which is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 96,195,

- filed August 15, 1936, relates to an electric timer and is particularly applicable to electric welding systems or the like, in which a current impulse of very short duration is to be supplied to the welding apparatus.

More particularly the inventionrelates to the control of a welding current supplied from an alternating source, whereby the duration of currentflow is only a fraction or a very few cycles of the alternating current, and an object of the present invention is to provide a controller adapted for accurate adjustment of such current flow. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for accurately timing the periods of current supply of extremely short .duration to a translating device.

Another object is to provide a controller in which the flow of current in a circuit is started at a selected moment of an alternating current cycle. 4

Another object is to provide for the supply of an accurately measured amount of electrical en'- ergy to a translating device.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically one embodiment of my invention, wherein a direct current source supplies a magnetic switch controlling an alternating welding current;

' Fig. 2 illustrates certain phenomena of the A current flowing in the switch coil of the system cal shown in Fig. 1-;

Fig. 1, wherein the source of direct current is a condenser, while 7 Fig. 4 is still another modification and in certain aspects a simplification of the system illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, L L and L are the terminals of a three-phase alternating current supply source, while B is a source of unidirectional potential such as.a storage battery, which, however, may be displaced by any other well known means for supplying a direct current. A transformer I has a. primarywinding l' connected to the lines D and L. A phase shifting transformer 2 has a three-phase primary winding 2- connected to the three terminals of the alternating current supply and a single phase secondary winding 2' supplies an alternating voltage whose phase can be adjusted relative to a voltage of the alternating supply in a well known manner by rotation of said secondary winding.

A secondaryminding I of the transformer l supplies energy to a voltage divider 3, provided with an adjustable contact 3. A condenser l is connected in series with a rectifier 5 between one end terminaloi the voltage divider 3 and the contact 3 A second voltage divider 6 having an adjustable contact 6*? is connected between said I aforementioned terminal and the common point of the condenser 4 and rectifier 5. Said aforementioned common terminal is also connected to the negative pole of the battery B. A gaseous electron tube 7! has its cathode 1 which may be heated in any well known manner, connected to the negative pole of the battery B. The grid 1 of said tube is connected to the contact 6. An anode I? of said tube is connected to one terminal of the winding 8 of an electromagnetic relay 8, the other terminal of said winding being connected in series with a condenser 9 to the negative pole of the battery B. The relay 8 is also provided with normally closed contacts 8 which are bridged by a resistor to.

The secondary winding 2 of the phase shifting transformer 2 is connected in series with a gaseous tube H and a resistor l2. A condenser I3 is inserted between the common point of resistor l2 and tube H and one of the contacts 8*; The other contact 8 is connected to the common point of the divider 6, condenser 4 and rectifier 5 and also to the common point'oftube H and v winding '2. I

The system also comprises a pilot switch I 4 having normally closed bridging contacts H and normally open bridging contacts Il A gaseous electron tube l5 has a cathode l5, which may be heated in any well known manner, connected to the negative pole of the battery B; A grid i5 of said tube is connected in series with a resistor l6 to the common" point of condenser l3 and resistor Ill. An electromagnetic switch I! has normally open contacts ll which are adapted to connect the primary winding l8 of a welding transformer across the lines L and L The switch has a coil H which has one terminal connected to an anode l5 of tube l5, while the other terminal is connected in series with a resistor I! to one terminal of the normally closed contacts H. An adjustable condenser 20 has one plate connected to the common point of coil il and resistor l9, while the other plate is connected through a resistor 2| to the common point of coil 8 and condenser 9. The latter plate is also connected to oneterminal of contacts HP and the free terminal of contacts ll. The second terminal of contacts is connected to the positive pole of battery B.

The system Fig. 1 functions as follows: If the lines U, U and L are energized and the tubes 1 and 15 are heated, the pilot switch Il may be operated to close contacts H" and open con-' tacts ll. Thisjmpresses the voltage of battery B upon a circuit comprising tube l5, coil II and variable condenser 20; However, no current can flow, because the grid l5 is more negative than the critical potential oi'the tub-e i5.- This grid bias results from the following facts: A suitable alternating potential is induced in the secondary" winding I and a fraction or such potential which depends upon the adjustment oi the contact 3 is impressed upon the rectifer 5 and condenser ll, with the result that the latter is charged to a unidirectional potential which in turn is impressed upon the voltage divider (3. A. fraction of the last named potential is impressed upon the grid 1 of tube l, the value being sufiiciently negative to normally block tube l.

The closure of contact M closes a circuit from the positive pole of the battery, through "resistor 2| and condenser 9 to the negative pole. This charges condenser t to a potential which ez-reds that plate potential of tube '6 for which the tube can be blocked by the existing negative grid potential. Tube 1'! thereupon becomes conducting and energizes relay ll, which latter opens contacts 8. The opening of these contacts inserts resistance it; in series with the condenser 58 across the tube ii. The transformer winding 2' in. presses an alternating voltage on tube it which at a given moment of the cycle causes the tube to pass a current. This current varies the charge of condenser l3, and as fully explained in my aforementioned application, a very steep voltage wave is impressed upon the grid 55 which causes tube 55 to pass current at a moment of the alternating voltage wave determined by the adjustment or the transformer When tube 35 becomes conducting a current flows through winding v ll and charges condenser 2t). Switch ll The interval during which the welding circuit is closed may be adjusted by varying the capacity of-the condenser 20. Thus by varyingthis interval and by accurately adjusting the moment at which the switch I I is energized, the amount of energy supplied to the weldmay be accurately determined, while arcing of the contacts of the switch I! incident to the opening of the circuit may be greatly reduced and practically eliminated by the proper timing of the closing moment so that the alternating welding current just passes through zero at the moment at which the switch opens its contacts.

In Fig. 2 the line 0 represents the current in the coil H at which the contactor closes. Condenser 20 and coil H are so selected that if connected in circuit with a direct current supply, damped oscillations of current would result. Such oscillations would be of the general character indicated by curve C' 01' Fig. 2. However, since the tube I5 is connected in serles with coil I'I and condenser 20, such oscillations can only perslst during the first positive pulse provided the grid voltage lsot such a value as to permit con- Fig. 1, wherein the energy for actuating the switch it is supplied from the alternating current terminals L and L of the three phase line L L and L but said energy may be supplied from any other suitable source. in the system as shown an adjustable condenser 29 is'charged in series with a rectifier 23 and a resistance 22 as long as the normally closed contacts li of pilot switch 6C- are closed. Normally a negative grid potential which is sufficient to prevent conduction of tube i5 is impressed upon grid H by a battery 26. A peaked positive potential is induced in the resistor 59 in the manner aforedescribed in connection with Fig. l'durin each positive cycle of the alternating supply voltage. ".Tne positive po tential is superposed upon the a rementioned negative grid bias and is of sun .6 as to pro-= duce a resultant grid pctcnti hich at the desired moment permits the tube conduct and thus pass energizing current through the winding of switch ll. If it is desired to energize the switch ll, the pilot switch M is operated in the manner aforedescribed, whereupon the condenser Ed is disconnected from the line and connected in series with the coil N and the tube 95, the latter being controlled as to the moment of starting of current flow, as explained in connection with Fig. 1. The interval during which the switch is energized is regulated by adjustment of the condenser. While coil il and condenser 26 again represent a system capable of oscillating, such oscillation is prevented by the unilateral conduction of tube l5, as has been explained before.

Fig. 4 is still another modification in which the tube is in circuit with the condenser 20 both for charging and discharging of the latter.

A double pole double throw pilot switch 24 hasa blade 24 which engages in the charging position contact 24 and in the discharging position p contact 21*, while a second blade 28 engages in the charging position, contacts 24 and 24 and in the discharging position contact 24 In the charging position the grid of tube i5 is connected to the anode through a current limiting resistor 25, so that it has no controlling effect on the tube. The ,condenser 20 receives a charge from the line as previously explained. If now the pilot switch is thrown to the discharging position, the tube connects the condenser to the switch I! and a current is passed through the latter to close it, as, will be apparent; the control "of the moment of starting being the same as explained in connection with thesystems shown in Figs. land 2. y

In the system, Fig. 1, the bias voltage is supplied by the voltage divider 6 and the transformer i, while in Figs. 3 and 4 it is obtained from a battery 28. It is, of course, understood that any other suitable source may be substituted therefor.

While the welding transformer current is shown to be controlled by an electromagnetic switch, it will be obvious that it might be controlled by a saturable reactor whose saturating winding is connected into the circuit in place of the winding ll Furthermore, it is possible to replace the electron tube illustrated in the several figures by other rectifying means, for example, by a synchronously rotating commutator, which closes the circuit at a given moment of the alternating cycle and interrupts it after a. given interval, so that the current flowing in the coil of the electromagnetic device is limited to substantially a single unidirectional pulse. If current should flow 'in the coil in the reverse direction after the first pulse, said current must be sufllciently low so as not to cause a second response of the electromagnetic device. Many other obvious modiflca tions which are within the scope of the present invention will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and the appended claims are to be' construed to encompass such modifications and are to be limited only by the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with an electric circuit of an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil, an energy storage circuit, means to charge said storage circuit, including means to modify said charge and to energize said device by current derived from a modification oi said charge, and means to limit the eii'ective current between said storage circuit and said coil to substantially a single unidirectional pulse.

2. In combination, an electric circuit, a condenser, an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil, means to charge said condenser with energy derived from-said circuit and to pass current through said coil resulting from a change of the quantity of energy stored in said condenser, said last mentioned means including electronic means for controlling the moment of starting current flow through said coil and means to regulate the duration thereof.

3. In combination, a source of electric ener y. a translating circuit, an electromagnetic control device for the latter having an-energizing coil, acondenser, means to charge said condenser, including means to produce an exchange of energy between said condenser and said coil, the current resulting from said exchange having a tendency to oscillate, and means for controlling the moment of starting the flow oi current in said coil and for limiting the effective ilow thereof to substantially a single unidirectional pulse.

4. In combination with an electric circuit, an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil, a condenser, means to connect said condenser to said circuit and to charge the same with energy derived therefrom, including electronic means to connect said coil and said condenser in series, to energize said coil, said electronic means also including means to control the moment of starting current flow therethrough and means to regulate the duration thereof;

5. The combination with an electric circuit, of an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil, a condenser, means to charge said condenser by energy derived from said circuit, an electronic tube having a cathode, an anode and a grid, means to connect said cathode and anode in' series with said condenser and said coil, an alternating current supply, means to impress upon said grid an instantaneous voltage derived from said alternating current supply to permit conduction through said tube, and means to control the moment of impreuing said voltage relative to the time phase of the voltage of said alternating current.

6. In combination, a source of alternating current, a translating device, an electromagnetic switch for controlling the supply of current from said source to said device and having an energizing coil, a supply of direct current, a condenser connected in circuit with said coil to afford a rapidly rising initial" current flow therethrough, an electron tube having a control element, means toconnect saidcondenseasaidwi in circuit with said supply, and means connected to said control element for starting current flow in said coil at a given moment in the cycle of the alternating current.

7, In combination, a source of alternating current, acontrol device therefor, having an energizing coil, a circuit including said coil and a condenser, means to supply electric energy to said circuit, said energy having a tendency to oscillate and means for controlling the starting of flow of said energy at a given moment in the cycle of said alternating current and for limiting the eifective flow thereof to substantially a single unidirectional pulse.

8. In combination, a source of electric energy,

a translating circuit, an electromagnetic control device for the latter, having an energizing coil, a condenser in series with said coll, means to charge said condenser by a unidirectio 1 current and to 'energizesaid coll by the curren supplied to said condenser, means to limit the eifective current in said coil to substantially a single unidirectional pulse and means for controlling the moment of starting the flow of current in said coil.

9. In combination, a source of electric energy, a translating circuit, an electromagnetic control device for the latter, having an energizing coil, a condenser in series with said 0611, means to charge said condenser by a unidirectional current and to energize said coil by the current supplied to said condenser, including means to limit the effective current in said coil to substantially a single unidirectional pulse and means for start ng the flow of current in said device at a given moment of said alternating current.

10. In combination, a source of alternating current, a translating circuit supplied therefrom, an electromagnetic control device for the latter having an energizing coil, a condenser, means to charge said condenser by a unidirectional current derived from said source and to energize said coil by the current supplied to said condenser, an electronic tube connected in circuit with said coil and said condenser to rectii'ythe current flowing therebetween, and means for starting the flow of current in said coil at a given moment of the cycle of said alternating current.

11. In combination,- an alternating current supply, a condenser, a rectifier, an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil,.an electron discharge tube connected in series with the latter,

means to connect said condenser and said rectifler in series across said supply to charge the former, means to commutate said connection and to connect said coil in series with said tube across said condenser to discharge the latter, and means to start said discharge at a given moment in the cycle of said alternating current.

12. In combination, an alternating current supply, a condenser, an electromagnetic device having an energizing coil, an electron tube having a cathode, an anode and a grid, means to connect said 'condenser in series with said tube across said supply to charge said condenser, means to commutate said connection and to connect said condenser in series with said coil and said tube to energize said coil by a discharge current from said condenser, and means connected to said grid to start now of said discharge current at a given moment in the cycle of said alternating current.

CARROLL STANBBURY. 

